Probable cause
The pilot's inability to gain sufficient altitude during takeoff as a result of inadequate preflight planning.
NTSB analysis
The pilot agreed to take the non-pilot rated aircraft owner and a passenger on a local flight. The pilot reported that during takeoff, he was not able to gain sufficient altitude to clear a fence off the departure end of the runway. The landing gear contacted the fence and the airplane continued forward until it contacted an embankment. The pilot stated he was not familiar with this particular airplane and airport, and that he should have had a greater safety margin on which to base his midfield go/no-go decision.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CHI08CA296 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 27, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Gann Valley, South Dakota
- Nearest airport
- Private Airstrip (PVT)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA28
- N-number
- N6266J
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.